Presently finishing up with reading The Expanse novels to one of my gfs, which in combination with us starting to watch For All Mankind recently has gotten her hooked on firm-ish sci-fi. As a Hard-SF reader and writer myself, I'm also looking for good books for both of us, ideally leaning more to the hard SF side of things so we need reading recommendations for what we read next, with the following criteria in mind:
- Ideally a level of hardness similar to or greater than the Expanse. Relatively realistic spaceflight, no (or at absolute most strictly limited) reactionless drives, either limited FTL or STL-only settings.
- Good characters. Basically a must-have. They don't have to be boyscouts, and we love a good antihero, but they need to feel like real people. Queer and diverse rep definitely welcomed but not necessary.
- Ideally a series or setting with multiple installments. Better yet if it's a story that's already finished.
Here's my current 'definite' reading list:
- Paul McAuley's Jackaroo novels (Something Coming Through and Into Everywhere, maybe a little softer than the Expanse but has a world and characters that feel present and real to me).
- Joan Vinge's Outcasts of Heaven's Belt (Ramjets technically render this story science fantasy now, but 70s and 80s ramjet books like this welcome).
- My problematic fave, Larry Niven's Ringworld… probably not some of the wonkier later ones. Might skip Throne since it's mostly furry sex.
- Al Reynolds Revelation Space sequence and House of Suns. Maybe Revenger, too, and the Blue Remembered Earth trilogy. My only concern is Reynolds' characters are so flat you could use them as surfboards.
Less sure about:
- Paul McAuley's Quiet War books. Characters are weaker than Jackaroo but the science is harder. Book one has an entire chapter dedicated to soil science, which would put her to sleep.
- Hannu Ranjeimi's Quantum Thief trilogy, which I love, but which a reread of has me convinced might suck as an audiobook.
- Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire and A Desolation Named Peace on account of their softness. On the other hand, lesbians and palace intrigue.
- Ann Leckie's Ancilliary trilogy, on account of their softness.
- Maybe Corey Doctorow's Walkaway, which has so far proven the only book of his I can fully recommend.
Would love recommendations in a similar vein. Can't stress enough how much more important to me characterwork is than absolute technical accuracy.
by WeirdSpecter